About the book: 1972 / The name of Fernão Mendes Pinto - a Portuguese sailor and traveler - is now not as well known as, say, H. Columbus, F. Magellan, J. Cook. However, back in the 17th century, Europe was reading Pinto’s memoirs “Wanderings” (Peregrinação). In this book, reality coexists with fabulous fiction. In 1537, Pinto went to India on one of the Portuguese ships to meet his two brothers. The wanderings continued for 21 years. He was captured 13 times, sold into slavery 17 times. In India he fought with the Turks who were besieging the fortress of Diu. He was one of the first Europeans who managed to get to Japan, even built the first European settlement, not far from the modern city of Yokohama. In China, he was accused of stealing imperial tombs and sentenced to forced labor to reconstruct the Great Wall of China. In Ethiopia he was captured by the Turks. He went to Siam (modern Thailand) with a group of Portuguese to help the local king to suppress the uprising. However, it was too late - the queen poisoned both the king and the young heir, placing her lover on the throne…